BMX - BMX Hate

So most of you probably don't deal with this unless you're into street. But I don't really get why people hate on bmx so much. For instance just messing around the side of some gas station, not beating up the concrete or anything that could ruin/break something. The guy that is out there says your making people angry or something like that. I mean if we aren't doing anything that can ruin the property and there is no customers around to complain about us running them off the road, what is the big deal? I see no reason why we can't be there for a few mins until we get bored.

it happens. its gay.

I royally pissed off my neighbor the other day (what I was doing was of dubious legality, however I try not to live by laws and instead by a personal code and I thought that 1 or 2 minutes couldn't hurt). Eventually I just asked what he was getting out of this long, drawn out argument (he treid to follow me home and kept trying to start an argument long after I had tried to end it) and he just shut up and went back into his house. count it! srsly though, just as a biker in general, even in Portland, bike-friendliest city in these US's of A, I still get yelled at/honked at/****ed with.

it happens. its gay.
Maybe people hate BMXers because they describe intangible emotions as gay in a negative connotation.

Sometimes BMXers can get in the way or make people uncomfortable. The gas station is private property so the owner has every right to remove you from his property, whether he has a reason or not. I'd say you should forget about and just find a new place to ride. I've had good luck going to university campuses, as long as you chill (i.e., stop riding) when the security guards roll up.

what I was doing was of dubious legality, however I try not to live by laws and instead by a personal code

I'm gonna guess you're about 16.

I'm gonna guess you're about 16.
guilty as charged. I know it sounds really stupid and juvenile and all those other bad adjectives, but I wanted to make it clear that I was doing this because I wanted to and not because I was trying to rebel against The Man. But it sounded really lame in the process.

Maybe people hate BMXers because they describe intangible emotions as gay in a negative connotation.

Sometimes BMXers can get in the way or make people uncomfortable. The gas station is private property so the owner has every right to remove you from his property, whether he has a reason or not. I'd say you should forget about and just find a new place to ride. I've had good luck going to university campuses, as long as you chill (i.e., stop riding) when the security guards roll up.

Honestly I try not to get in peoples way, like on sidewalks and what not. I always move to the dirt or road. I know the gas station is private property and he can do whatever he wants, which I have no problem with, it was just his dumb comment about how we make people angry. I've been to the university it wasn't that great, too many people everywhere as well.

It's just something you have to live with.

Everyone hates on us, we usually keep coming back (to certain places) alot until they realize that we're not gonna leave. One of the reasons is if we get hurt, we can sue them. As long as they ask nicely, ill leave right away, but if there a ***** and say im gonna call the cops right away or get out of here, then ill just sit there and ride to piss them off more. I have no respect for people who are rude for no reason.

I just hate how people are so judgemental on something harmless. Most of it is sterotypical stuff like graffitti, drugs, and other stupid stuff.

groups of people on bmxes can be pretty intimidating for outsiders, particularly if there's a bunch of you. i guess shopkeepers/etc worry that it'll drive away business if you're hanging around nearby and people are scared to approach. and some people are just dicks, and react to feeling intimidated by getting all up in your face. feh.

they're just jealous. some old granny started *****ing at me the other day when she was riding a granny bike real slow and I hit a jump and flew past her on my BMX.

you probably startled her, sheesh

and it doesnt matter how old you are. i am about to turn 30, just got my first bmx in 14 years or so. i ride the street every day now, and STILL get the bad attention. when i was young, they loved us... you all ruined it. haha. nah damn the man anyway!

The only good thing about getting older is having the confidence, ability to stand up to people in a cool calm and eloquent manor plus (in general) you can get given more respect from people because you're not a teenager.

It's not just BMX, people don't like cyclist in general, I ride lots of different bikes and a few months ago I was out with some mates on a social ride with people from the London fixed gear website. We stopped off at this one place (public road, non residential area, about 11 pm dead quiet) to do a mini time trail round this small circuit. Within 5 minuets the security guards came out to tell us to move on because we were a terrorist threat! Yes that's right a group of about 20 people aged 20 - 50 riding bikes round a circle is now a terrorist threat! The said they called the police, we carried on our time trail, putting down times for about 30 minuets. No rapid police response to the cycling terrorist threat from the police. We left when finished to leave them to write up their incident report on the terrorist cyclists.

Our town holds the same opinion on skateboarders.... they're treated like a bunch of druggies, criminals, etc.

yeah, same. BMX is like an upscale version of skate boarding. they think we're all wanted felons. some dickhole cop actually pulled over a guy in my neighborhood for having his brakes on the left of the bvars instead of the right/ wtf?

know a guy with dreads who skates (double threat). apparently he gets pulled over multiple times per month. profiling sucks hard

I guess BMX is worse than skating here and my town is a "bike friendly" town. (road bikes that is) Most of the bike stores here even frown on bmxers.

I'd rather see the teens put their energy into something physical like skateboarding or BMX than sit around the house playing video games.... but maybe I'm just showing my age there!!

To tell you the truth, i used to ride BMX for about 3 years and only got kicked out of a place once. I (and about 10 other bikers) got kicked out of the skatepark because the skaters were being whiny (insert adj. here) saying we waxed their rails and halfpipe too much. Was funny seein them eat crap because of how slippery it was, but cmon. Its a friggen skate park (includes bikes -.-) Anyways, one skater got all sad and called the cops sayin we tryed to purposely run into them...which wasnt too far from the truth for some bikers :D Cops said technically bikes arent allowed since its a "Skate" park, so we had to leave. Showed back up not even 5 minutes after the cop left and kept riding. Ridiclous anyways lol.
Really, you can bike anywhere as long as your courteous. If you want to ride somewhere and you see the owner of the property, ask him first. Trust me, asking will get you so far...and dont get pissed when they say no and they just may change their mind :)

Edit: The reason you cant bike on private property is because if you get hurt, you can sue the owners. Another reason is because grinding and dropping the bike damages EVERYTHING (dont say it doesnt). People have been gettin kicked out of places for years, deal with it and find somewhere else to ride. Yellin and whinning is givin us an even worse name

when i was in college, i couldn't ride my skateboard on campus without getting yelled at or a ticket. even just rolling to class. if i was on my bike no one said a word to me. actually the art museum was skate proofed and blamed on all the skaters on campus, but it was actually bikers who ruined all the ledges and rails. i hung out with them and took photos. when i was in college i had a shop sponsorship for skating, so obviously i did that more, but my bike of choice then, was my BMX bike. i've done it all, biking, skateboarding, rollerbladeing, hell i even had a pair of soap shoes (not proud of that) and i got **** all the time. i am not trying to step on anyones toes and piss off anyone with my story, but prove a point. you get **** for being young. that's all. hell i am 27 and i still look 18. i get **** if i have a day off of work or i am out on a video shoot and i walk into a mall. security guards want to call my school and see if i am allowed to be out for the day. it's not because you are on your bike, your board, or just sitting on a bench. you are young, and if you are like i was when i was 16, you look like a punk. that is why you get ****. when you get older, you will get **** because everyone is set in their ways. it's life. let it roll off your shoulder and move to the next spot. unless it's the cops, then run like hell.

shoot i ride a 1987 diamonback hot streak around my neighborhood and the only 'hate' i experience is hoodrats hollerin' at me "yo, that's my bike!" or "give me back my bike!" trying to get my attention so i'll slow down and they can steal my ****. i just fly past 'em.

We live in a litigous society. Many business establishments do not want riders, skaters, bikers, etc on their property due to fears of lawsuits. This transcends the BMX scene.

I have been in full kit on my road bike and tried to make a deposit at the drive through of a bank that I have had an account at since the late 1970's. Yes, I am that old. They turned me away and asked me to come inside to do business, as their insurance did not cover bicycles in the drive through lane.

I walked in, dripping sweat all over their nice shiny bank, with my road bike at my side, as they did not have racks and I did not have a lock.

I have the same thing as Rekall. even when I ride my winter bmx (a Mole. that's a Sportchek brand), they still try that ****.

I got pulled over for speeding before......On my BMX....of all things...No don't ask how fast he said I was going...with no brakes...lol

How fast did he say you were going?

BMX is like an upscale version of skate boarding.

I laughed. Really.

How fast did he say you were going?
Sigh...ok.....Around 40 in a 25....it was a huge hill....
Perhaps someday i'll strap a cam to the bars and show ya...lol
He also said "boy yur gunna kill yurself on that thing"


Some how I get pulled over more often on a bike then in any of my cars.....

I royally pissed off my neighbor the other day (what I was doing was of dubious legality, however I try not to live by laws and instead by a personal code and I thought that 1 or 2 minutes couldn't hurt).

The above response should answer the OP's question.....Yea, I am an old guy and roadie to boot but I grew up skating and riding BMX in the 80's and believe me when I say nothing has changed. I hate seeing street "punks" riding on sidewalks and curbs around stores where people are just trying to walk, shop and live there lives just as much as people who were my age hated me back then. What comes around goes around....LoL. People feel threatened by younger guys who typically have longer hair, piercings and ink. It's just the way it is. Put a bunch of girl scouts riding bikes in the same spot and I am sure no one would care less.

How about the time when this cop asked me "why am I riding a "kids" bike?" I told the guy

Look I doubt you will find a kid that can fit this bike and ride....my bike is set up for a 190lb 6'1 dude and it also weighs around 50 lbs according to the bathroom scale, So I wouldn't call this a "kids bike" by any means......

and I got my license back and rode off....some cops can be d!cks about BMX bikes.

I was however riding up a flat parking lot at 1:00 in the morning ...lol

How about the time when this cop asked me "why am I riding a "kids" bike?" I told the guy

Look I doubt you will find a kid that can fit this bike and ride....my bike is set up for a 190lb 6'1 dude and it also weighs around 50 lbs according to the bathroom scale, So I wouldn't call this a "kids bike" by any means......

and I got my license back and rode off....some cops can be d!cks about BMX bikes.

I was however riding up a flat parking lot at 1:00 in the morning ...lol

50lbs? How did you weigh your bike on a bathroom scale?

How about the time when this cop asked me "why am I riding a "kids" bike?" I told the guy

Look I doubt you will find a kid that can fit this bike and ride....my bike is set up for a 190lb 6'1 dude and it also weighs around 50 lbs according to the bathroom scale, So I wouldn't call this a "kids bike" by any means......

and I got my license back and rode off....some cops can be d!cks about BMX bikes.

I was however riding up a flat parking lot at 1:00 in the morning ...lol

I'm still trying to figure out how you ride up a flat parking lot...

His bike is so heavy the parking lot caves in under him, so as he rides forward to escape the ever deepening hole he has to ride in an upwardly direction.

haha I didn't mean "up" as in literally up.. I meant up as in like "rippin it up, just riding in general"

But its funnier that way so whatever its all good.

So I pass up this unfinished strip mall on my mtb every day on my commute. I rode around the exterior of the buildings and noted the tall curbs, ledges, and stairs(rare for my area). I saw my neighborhood police officer while leaving and he asked me if I knew what stores were going into this strip mall. I answered and he told me to have a safe ride home.

Saturday I rode my bmx up there and after riding around the same officer roles up and got out of his patrol car, and waved me to come over there.
He asked me "Don't you think you're a little too old for riding like that?".
I'm 22, covered in sweat and winded so I replied "No sir, It's hard to find something as much fun. Besides, this keeps me healthy.".
He asked why I don't drive my car to college and work. I explained the benefits I gain from cycling. He said I should wash my car, be sure to start it once a week, blah. Then he told me I'm okay to ride there as long as I don't vandalize anything. Lastly he added I might want to head home as I don't have any reflectors on my bike. :mad:

It's cool what being polite can do for you. If i were on the MTB I bet he'd think I was just passing through like said before. I bet if I was shirtless and he saw my tattoos then his prejudice wouldn't allow me to continue riding there. Sad to say but that's my experience.

Today was just ridiculous as far as this goes. 3 times they came in the span of 2 hrs. I was first out and my friend's brother was skating so he heard the officer say, "Doesn't it stink to be the last one out." or something like that. Why doesn't this city just man up and build a bike park or let bikes in?!

50lbs? How did you weigh your bike on a bathroom scale?


hold your bike and stand on the scale. put your bike down, stand on the scale. subtract, you have your bikes weight.

hold your bike and stand on the scale. put your bike down, stand on the scale. subtract, you have your bikes weight.

So wait, is the the BMX Hate thread or the BMX Weight thread? :innocent:

hold your bike and stand on the scale. put your bike down, stand on the scale. subtract, you have your bikes weight.

Except that isn't very accurate because if you don't have your bike perfectly centered the weight will vary.

No it won't, it'll just be harder for you to balance on the scales while holding it. As long as all the weight is being transferred through your feet to the scales (and you're not leaning against a wall/etc for support) it doesn't matter what angle you hold the bike.

No it won't, it'll just be harder for you to balance on the scales while holding it. As long as all the weight is being transferred through your feet to the scales (and you're not leaning against a wall/etc for support) it doesn't matter what angle you hold the bike.

What if you levitate over the scale? And i think that fuzzbox is right, it will vary, never done it though.

It shouldn't, unless your scales themselves are dodgy and measure differently on different parts of their surface, in which case putting more pressure on one foot than the other or just facing a different direction will probably make you weigh differently too. In which case they're pretty useless scales!

As long as you're balanced on the scales and not falling over or holding onto something for support, your mass is by definition centred over the scales. If it's not centred, you fall over.

And when you're holding a bike up off the ground too: again, the combined mass of you and your bike is still by definition centered over the scales. If it's not, you fall over.

Even if you hold the bike way out in front of you or off to the side, you'll either stick your bum or hips out to compensate, and remain centered, or you'll lose your balance and fall over.

Either way holding a bike up while standing on the scales is no different to if your own weight had mysteriously increased by the weight of the bike. The key is don't hold onto anything for support, and don't fall over.

Kids need to stop worrying about how much their bike weighs. A lighter bike does not make a rider better. I don't bunnyhop or air any higher on my 20-something pound bike compared to my old 40-something pound bike; it's all in the technique.

Except that isn't very accurate because if you don't have your bike perfectly centered the weight will vary.

it gives you a rough estimate. and that is how you weigh your bike on a bathroom scale, i didn't way it was perfect, just answered the question of how it is done.

kids need to stop worrying about how much their bike weighs. A lighter bike does not make a rider better. I don't bunnyhop or air any higher on my 20-something pound bike compared to my old 40-something pound bike; it's all in the technique.

+11000000000000000000000000

Today was just ridiculous as far as this goes. 3 times they came in the span of 2 hrs. I was first out and my friend's brother was skating so he heard the officer say, "Doesn't it stink to be the last one out." or something like that. Why doesn't this city just man up and build a bike park or let bikes in?!

I'm assuming from your last sentence, that you've tried working with the city to get that done, right?

Yep, but they are stubborn and lack knowledge even though everything was explained to them.

weigh yourself, then hold the bike in your arms, step on scale, then do basic subtraction...easy:)
I just got done swapping some parts out I'm hoping it lost a lot of fat:)

Kids need to stop worrying about how much their bike weighs. A lighter bike does not make a rider better. I don't bunnyhop or air any higher on my 20-something pound bike compared to my old 40-something pound bike; it's all in the technique.

Agreed, except that a 20 pound bike is easier to manuver than a 40 pound bike, but like a 25 pound bike makes no difference than a 30 pound bike. I love when kids on youtube and stuff, say "i cant 180, i think its because my bikes to heavy"